Regulator for dynamo-electric machines.



c. A. BODDIE.

REGULATOR FOR DYNAMO ELECTRIC MACHINES. Armcmoxmw APR. l2, 19:6.

1,284,573. Patented No v. 12, 1918.

I0 j H a? 22 I l l l l 23 :6 515 33 v I8, E

WITNESSES INVENTOR W. Clarence A. Boddie. BY

CLARENCE A. BODDIE, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASBIGNOB TO WESTINGJiOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY,

A CORYORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

REGULATOR FOR DYNAMIC-ELECTRIC MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 12, 1916. Serial No. 90,878.

To all "whom it may concern Be it known that I, CLARENCE A. Boonie, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Regulators for Dynamo-Electric Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to volta c and current regulators for dynamo-e ectric machines and iarticularly to regulatorsof the kind in which the regulation is effected by rapidly opening and closing a circuit in shunt to a resistor thatisromwctedin series With the field-magnet winding of the dynamoelcctric machine.

When voltage regulators have heretofore been employed in connection with exeiters of large capacity and having large field currents, it has been customary to divide the regulating resistor that is connected in series with the field-magnet winding into a plurality of sections and to employ a corresponding number of relays for respectively controllin hunt circuits to the several sections. owever, with the ever-increasing sizes of exciters and other dynamoelectric machines, it has recently been found that, when a certain field current is exceeded, no advantage is gained in employing more than two, or possibly three, relays in connection with a single resistor. condition has served to limit the capacities of regulators, as heretofore constructed and arran ed, and the present invention is intende to remove this limitation upon the field of application of re ulators.

More specifically, the oiject of my invention is to provide means whereby an ordinary voltage regulator of the character above specified may be rendered capable of use in connection with an exciter or other dynamo-electric machine having a large exciting current without subjecting the contact members of the relays of the regulator to undue arcing and burning and to the resultant sticking or roughening and excessive wear.

My invention is panying drawing,

illustrated in the accomthe single figure of which diagrammatically illustrates an electrical system comprising distributing circuit condoctors 1-2-3, a generator 4 having an armature 5 that is connected to the said con This,

ductors, and a field magnet winding 6 that receives exciting current from an exciter 7 having an armature 8. The emi ter 7 is provided with a field-magnet winding 9 in series with which are a plurality of parallelconnected resistors 10, 11 and 12, three'of which are shown in the present instance but any suitable number of which maybe employed, as desired. The circuits of the resisters 11 and 12 are adapted to be opened and closed by relays 13 and 14, respectively, that constitute parts of a voltage regulator and are provided with energizing windings 15 and 16 the circuits of which are con trolled by a third relay 17 having an energizing winding 18 that is controlled by'a pair of stationary and movable contact members 20 and 21, respectively, constituting parts of the main control element of the regulator. A suitable discharge resistor 22 and a condenser 23 are connected between the terminals of the rela 14 for the urpose of relieving the sai contact mem ers from undue-arcing and burning.

Patented Nov.;12, 1918.

The main control element of the regulator comprises also a bell-crank lever 24 that is pivoted at 25 to a stationary sup ort, a lever .26 that is pivotally connecte at 27 to the bell-crank lever 24 and is provided with an upwardly and laterally-extending arm 28 upon which the contact member 21 is mounted. The lever 24 is actuated by means of an electromagnet having an energizing winding 29 that receives energy from the circuit 1-2-3 through a transformer 30 and the de ree of ener ization of which is controlled y means 0 a relay-31 that is adapted to open and close a circuit in shunt to a resistor 22 that is connected in series with the said winding. The relay is provided with an energizing winding 33 that is connected in parallel with the energizing windings 15 and 16 of the relays 13 and 14 and is controlled by the relay 17. The lever 26 is actuated by an electromagnet having a winding 35 that is energized in proportion to the voltage of the circuit 1-23 and receives current therefrom through the transformer 30.

Since the regulator per 86 constitutes no part of the resent invention, its operation will be described only in a very general way. The winding 35 serves to determine the position of the lever 26 in accordance with the voltage of the'cireuit 1--2--8,- while the winding 29, by reasonof its nately fully and partially serves to vibrate the contact member 21 into and out of enga ment with the member 20. Engagement an disengagement of the contact members and 21 cause the contact men'ibers of the relays 13, 14, 17 and 31 to ibrate into and out of engagement, the relays 1.3 and 14 opening and closing the circinfs of the resistors 11 and 12, and there by determining the effective value of the resistancc in a aiies with the field-magnet wind .ing 9 of the exciter. The efl'ective value of the current traversing the field-magnet winding 9 is thereby regulated in such a manner as to govern the exciter voltage to correct for any tendency of the generator voltage to vary.

l'Vhen the contact members of the relays 13 and 14; are in engagement, the exciter field current divides substantially equally between the three paths through the n,- sistors 10, 11 and 12, and, consequently,

' when the contact members of the relays are separated, each relay is required to handle only a part of the total field current. Moreover, since the'resistor 10 remains permanently in circuit with the field-magnet w'hding 9, the relays are not required to can -pletely interrupt the circuit. The relayqeontact members are thus relieved from serious arcing and burning which might ca use sticking and roughenin and undue wear, and the regulator is there y adapted for use with exciters and other dynamo-electric machines having large field currents.

being alterenergized,

'manently in circuit with the mums ' I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a dynamo-elec tric machine having a field-magnet winding, of a lurality of parallel resistances connected in series with the said field-magnet winding, and a regulator having means that operate simultaneously to open and close the circuits of all butone of the said resist- Bnces, the circuit of the remaining resistance being unafi'ected by the regulator.

2. The combination with a dynamo-electric machine having a field-magnet winding, of a lurality of necte in series with the said field-magnet winding, rela s included respectirel y in circuit with all at one of the said resistances, the remaining resistance being included perfield magnet winding and having such a value as to perparallel resistances c0nmit the flow of appreciable exciting current at all times, and means for governing the said relays.

3. The combination with a dynamo-electric machine having a field-magnet winding, of two parallel resistors connected in series with the said field-magnet winding, a relay included in circuit with one of said resistors, the remaining resistor being included permanently in circuit .with said field-magnet Winding and having such a value as to per mit the flow of appreciable exciting current at all times, and means for governing said relay.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 31st day of March.

CLARENCE A. BODDIE. 

